used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
barenessnoun
a bleak and desolate atmosphere
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
lacking funds
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
Dave's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
desolatelyadverb
in grief-stricken loneliness; without comforting circumstances or prospects
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
door-sill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
gaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
gaudyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːdi/
tastelessly showy
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
harshlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrʃli/
in a harsh or unkind manner
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
peelingnounUS /ˈpiːlɪŋ/
loss of bits of outer skin by peeling or shedding or coming off in scales
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
rottedadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtɪd/
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
ruthlesslyadverbUS /ˈruːθləsli/
in a ruthless manner
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
saggedverbUS /sæɡd/
inflected form of “sag” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading The rough deal door sagged on its hinges, half open.
saplingnounUS /ˈsæplɪŋ/
young tree
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
seed-heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
shrubnounUS /ʃrʌb/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
sparseadjectiveUS /spɑːrs/
not dense
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
straggledverbUS /ˈstræɡəld/
past form of “straggle” — wander from a direct or straight course
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
stripsnounUS /strɪps/
plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
uncompromisingadjectiveUS /ənˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/
not making concessions
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
whitishadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtɪʃ/
resembling milk in color; not clear
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The door-sill gaped with a wide crack, rotted along the edges; and along the crack grew a little fringe of grass, ruthlessly crushed down by old Dave’s gaudy bundle.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Not a shrub nor a sapling broke the bareness of the massive log walls, whence the peeling bark hung in strips that fluttered desolately to every wind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only a few tall and ragged weeds, pale green, and with sparse, whitish grey seed-heads, straggled against the foundation logs.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Though a spur of black, uncompromising spruce woods gave it near shelter on the north, the harshly naked clearing fell away from it on the other three sides, and left the cabin bleak.
